December 10 / 14.00 Fontwell

14.00

Soft

BetGoodwin Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 5f 164y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
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BetGoodwin Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 7048-8

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Not beaten too far on handicap debut over 2m3f here in February but lesser runs since and was a long way from justifying market support for new yard last month; work to do from 8lb wrong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

18:25 Stratford

All Under Control

11st 1lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Ryan Potter

Ought to have coped much better with the soft ground when well beaten at Cartmel (2m6f) ten weeks ago but was runner-up on her two previous outings (both 3m2f, good; once here) and Sean Bowen is booked today.

9/2

10th

8

27th Jun 2025

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

15:08 Cartmel

All Under Control

10st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Ryan Potter

Effective on tight left-handed tracks having finished second at Stratford and Newton Abbot the last twice, not beaten far either time; those were over 3m2f but she's fine over this far.

5/1

7

4th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:35 Newton Abbot

All Under Control

11st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Ryan Potter

2m5f hurdle winner (soft) last December, when with Robert Walford; form then tailed off; back in better form for this trainer last month, equalling her best RPR when a close second over C&D (good); now needs to back that up and she's a player if able to do so.

7/2

4/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 307P01 C

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Out of sorts for long time but he'd fallen well below the marks he was placed off two winters ago and he relished the big step up in trip back over hurdles here (3m2f, good to soft) in September; back up 10lb but not weighted out of it if the return to shorter doesn't count against him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Warwick

Groom De Cotte

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Gary Brown

Won over fences 13 months ago but returned from layoff with lacklustre hurdle run in April and is difficult to enthuse over after that performance; has usual tongue-tie refitted; seems versatile ground-wise.

14/1

8th

2

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:39 Chepstow

Groom De Cotte

11st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Gary Brown

Won over fences at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft) last March and returned from break with pleasing fourth over hurdles there (3m1f, good to soft) in November; absent for another 131 days since but won't be far away if in similar form again.

5/1

OUR TIP

25/1

  • Place: £6.50

Form: 73369U

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Thereabouts in 2m1f novice hurdles at Newton Abbot in May and June but she ran moderately on handicap debut here last month and unseated early 12 days ago; not convincing this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

14th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

19:10 Fontwell

Hurst Hill

11st 0lb

J: Daniel Sansom

T: Seamus Mullins

Just 1-17 over hurdles, the win gained at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) last summer, but she made a satisfactory reappearance last month and her current mark is workable; considered each-way.

13/2

6th

5

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

17:30 Taunton

Hurst Hill

11st 2lb

J: Daniel Sansom

T: Seamus Mullins

Opened account at Newton Abbot (2m6f, good) last July and runner-up in three of her four starts since, at up to 3m3f; on the premises on that evidence but the 163 days off ask a question.

6/1

3

20th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

17:17 Plumpton

Hurst Hill

11st 7lb

J: Daniel Sansom

T: Seamus Mullins

Runner-up twice at Stratford (3m2f/2m6f) since holding on well to open account at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in July; evidently in good nick and won't mind if the ground softens; leading contender.

7/4

Form: 9-5593

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
He wasn't ahead of his mark in Ireland and although a respectable third at Leicester (2m4f, good to soft) on recent debut for new yard, it looked hard work for him from some way out; likely to need more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

10th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 4

13:57 Sedgefield

Arctic Saint

10st 9lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Deborah Cole

Placed twice at up to 2m4f on slow ground over hurdles; below par when last seen in that sphere at Warwick last December; has since had wind surgery and is on a competitive mark if he is able to produce his best on his chase debut.

8/1

5th

6

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:17 Chepstow

Arctic Saint

11st 5lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Deborah Cole

Ex-Irish maiden who made the frame in two handicaps (2m4f/2m5f) for Deborah Cole towards the end of last year; needs to find extra here but a recent wind op may help in that regard.

11/1

Form: 007-42

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Well held over C&D on soft ground two starts ago but he might have needed the run after a break; much improved upped to 3m1f at Plumpton (good; first-time cheekpieces, retained) when touched off late by in-form rival; back up 2lb; good chance if coping with return to these conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

12:30 Fakenham

Chancellorstown

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

prominent, not fluent 1st, not fluent 8th, lost ground after 3 out

11/2

6th

3

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

12:30 Fakenham

Chancellorstown

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

prominent, not fluent 1st, not fluent 8th, lost ground after 3 out

11/2

Form: 6428

Last run: 158 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Unraced on slower than good ground and his form has been quite mixed but he did give it a go when a close second at Newton Abbot (2m5f) in June and he's had wind surgery since a subsequent defeat there in July; goes handicapping off an ordinary mark with realistic hopes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

17:15 Ffos Las

Eileens Milan

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Went close in Newton Abbot novice hurdle (2m5f, good) for Paul Nicholls last summer but quickly became very disappointing for him; drying ground might aid his cause on today's stable/chase debut but he has a lot more to prove than some of these.

12/1

2

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

17:15 Ffos Las

Eileens Milan

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Went close in Newton Abbot novice hurdle (2m5f, good) for Paul Nicholls last summer but quickly became very disappointing for him; drying ground might aid his cause on today's stable/chase debut but he has a lot more to prove than some of these.

12/1

8

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 4

16:50 Wincanton

Eileens Milan

11st 5lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Well beaten on his last three starts, the last two being his first handicaps (2m5f, soft); something to prove but he was second in a good-ground 2m5f novice hurdle at Newton Abbot last June, and the return to better ground may help; stamina in pedigree and with leading yard; no forlorn hope.

8/1

Form: 9P5-53

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Yet to play a serious part in four handicaps, despite being a short price for the latest two; interesting to see if his supporters keep the faith now blinkers are added; 8lb wrong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Spicy Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Hasn't lived up to market expectations since switched to handicap hurdles; not bred for fences but he must be thought capable of better and this isn't strong; cheekpieces tried after one run in blinkers.

10/1

7th

11

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Spicy Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Yet to play a serious part in four handicaps, despite being a short price for the latest two; interesting to see if his supporters keep the faith now blinkers are added; 8lb wrong.

8/1

7th

11

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Spicy Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Yet to play a serious part in four handicaps, despite being a short price for the latest two; interesting to see if his supporters keep the faith now blinkers are added; 8lb wrong.

8/1

Form: /P3P-8

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced since Irish point win in 2021 and the comeback trail has yielded little as yet, pulled up on handicap debut here and finishing remote at Lingfield last month; has it to prove for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 82y

Class 5

13:03 Wincanton

Dance To Fame

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Richard Rowe

prominent

66/1

6

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Dance To Fame

10st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Richard Rowe

Lightly raced since Irish point win in 2021 and the comeback trail has yielded little as yet, pulled up on handicap debut here and finishing remote at Lingfield last month; has it to prove for now.

33/1

6

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Dance To Fame

10st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Richard Rowe

Lightly raced since Irish point win in 2021 and the comeback trail has yielded little as yet, pulled up on handicap debut here and finishing remote at Lingfield last month; has it to prove for now.

33/1

Form: 08P07

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Nothing doing in bumpers or three hurdles but two of dam's siblings were useful jumpers and it's not impossible this one will show more now handicapping off a lowly mark; hood refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Absence Of Malice

10st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

always behind, tailed off before 4 out

10/1

7

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Absence Of Malice

10st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

always behind, tailed off before 4 out

10/1

7th

10

20th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

12:15 Ffos Las

Absence Of Malice

10st 11lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

held up in last, always behind

100/1

Non-runners

Engaging Sam, Smith

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.80
Straight Forecast £22.88
Tricast £627.22
Trifecta £366.50

Selections

POSTDATA:

Chancellorstown

The Times:

Groom De Cotte

SPOTLIGHT:

Eileen's Milan

RP RATINGS:

Arctic Saint

WEST COUNTRY:

Spicy Nelson

D Express:

Eileen's Milan

The Guardian:

Arctic Saint

Telegraph:

Chancellorstown

Daily Mail:

Chancellorstown

The Star:

Chancellorstown

Daily Record:

Chancellorstown

Daily Mirror:

Groom De Cotte

The Sun:

Groom De Cotte